The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-12
CLEvELAND,s SUBSTITUTE.

The Man Who Went to War for Him Now
in the Poor-House.
Buffalo Special in Philadelphia Press
George Bruiski, a Polish sailor, was the SUBJ
stitute for President Cleveland in the War of the
commander of the Des Moines. Ia, Post. g. A.
R., in which he said that Mr.. Cleveland had
never fulfilled his promise in regard paying
him for going as his substitute and had let him
live in the various poor-houses
Bruiski is now in the Soldiers Home, at Bath.
n. Y. where he was seen By The Press CORE
spondent. He IS 90 years old, below medium
height has prominent features and bleared
eyes. He is manifestly very feeble, has no use
of bis right wrist and suffers from hacking
His mind seems clear and he spoke rapidly as
his gasping breath would permit He said the
letter to the Des Moines Post was dictated by
II believed it was time for the old soldiers to
know how the President treated me- went to
the war for him. 80 he was not in danger Of get
ting killed or hurt. and what has he done for
mea He let me go around from one poor-house
to another and now here. / am ali broken down
and dying in the hospital and he won't lift a
hand to help me. and he the President of the
United States. Imgoine TO tell what he has done
if die for it Why he would never help me to
get pension"
What assistance did you expect to get from
him 2"
Didn't he promise to help me if got out of
the war alive. / was working on the propeller
Acme whom Captain Rinehart, of Police Sta
Cleveland. who bad been drafted, and we went
up TO Cleveland's Office to see about it. Cleve-
land had only $50, and l think he borrowed
that of Captain Rinehart. but he said he would
help me more after got out knew that tne
bounty then $500. but told him that if he
would get office something for Captain
Rinehart and help me if came out alive would
go for him. This he agreed to. After I
sworn in by Squire Ryan. got the $3.50 them
Mr.. Cleveland Captain Rinehart and went to
Fort Parker for me to be mustered in. On the
way Mr.. Cleveland asked US in to have glass of
beer and when he paid for it he opened out his
pocket book 9. and said Here, George. do you
him home when l went for him.
Have you ever asked Mr.. Cleveland for
helpP asked the correspondent.
Certainly have and he never gave it to me.
I saw him in Buffalo in 1885, the day that Gov
ernor Hill was elected. had lost my discharge
papers and had been around few days to get
lands substitute. There was plenty of them
could identify me. Fred Bush keeper of the
poor-house could do it for me, and there are the
records to show it. had a letter FOR Mr.. Cleve-
land about my case and went to his Office where
Mr.. Bissell is to give it to him. There was a
crowd standing around him in the front Office.
and took me by the hand and said: Come
George and brought me into the center. Then
he said: Here gentlemen, is the man who
fought for me in the war Then he made me
sit down and the letter was left lying on the
table After while he came up and put his
hand on my shoulder and said; WELL George,
now are YOU! tOiu I'LL tuaG 1 W6s ali uSeO upy
that my health was sill gone and that I didn't
have anything oh. pshaw. that isn't So he
said Then he bent down to me and asked is it
so. GeoreeF and l commenced to cry as sat in
the chair. Then he asked me what he could do
for me, and told him that was poor and had
no home and was not able to work. Then he
went into another room and / did not see any
more of him."
..Where had you been living, then?n
Eat theipoor house My lungs got SO bad
that had to go there, and you how
along"
Have you ever applied TO him since?"
Yes; had two three letters written for
me and never hes<d anything from him except
that Lamont sent a notice that a letter had
been received. wanted to go to Fort Leaven-
worth for my health, and had no money and
had lost all my citizen clothes, but Mr.. Cleve-
land wouldn't help me at all. Then 1 wrote to
see if he wouldn't try to get me pension. 1
Campbell. of Bath is trying to get pension
for 1 think ought to have that, anyway.
1 wrote to General Black and he sent mo a
blank of some kind to fill out and that's the
way it stands My lungs were ruined in the
service and ought to have something to pay
for it,"
Recurring to his grievance Bruiskie added:
What am to think of man who will let me
die here and not try help me after all his
such thing that The ought to be
tarred and feathered that would do it. I've told
the story about what I've had to do with Mr.
but there are two things more thar
have never told to anybody and l won't tell
them to the last moment. But if it becomes
necessary I'll tell them, even if it is my last
alive"